Railway-switch mechanism



May 13, 1930'. WYNN-WILLIAMS RAILWAY SWITCH MECHANISM Q Filed March 14,1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 13, 1930. L, WYNN-WILLIAMS RAILWAY SWITCHMECHANISM s Shee ts-Sheet 2 Filed March 14, 1929 INVEI NTOR:

1930. L. WYNNII-WILLIIAMS 1,758,637

RAILWAY SWITCH MECHANISM Filed March 14, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .Fzf

INVENTOR :1 [JW KIM Patented May 13, 1930 UNITEF) STATES LLEWELYNwYNN-WILLIAMs, F DARLINGTON, ENGLAND RAILWAY-SWITCH MECHANISMApplication filed March 14, 1929, Serial No. 347,06, and in GreatBritain February 14, 1929-.

The invention relates to railway switch mechanism of the kind in whichthe switch rails are resiliently supported upon anti-friction bearings,so as to be. normally lifted and readily movable but resting firmly uponrail bearingplates or chairs when depressed by a train passingthereover.

The object of .the present invention is to provide improved means ofthis kind which will possess great durability and safety of action. whenin use, and which will be easily operated, whilst the cost ofmaintenance will be reduced to a minimum;

Accordingto-thisinvention a beam or memher having a path or race for aroller carried by the switch rail is provided, and said beam or memberwhich extends transversely beneath the runningrails is suspended orsupported by ineansfixed to said running rails,

and the roller is mounted in a bearing carried by a bracket or holdercarried by the movable switch rail, the arrangement being such thatthero'l'ler traverses-the race or path of's'aid b'eamor member at thesame time supporting said movable switch rail.

The invention also includes other features which will be apparent fromthe following detailed descriptioi'i illustrated by the accompanyingdrawings, in which :Figure 1 is 30 an elevation of railway switchmechanism constructed according to the present invention. Figure 2 is adetail View of the arran ement.ofmeehanism at one end of the beam.Figure 3" is a plan of one end of the beam separately illustrating oneform of construction thereof. Figure 4 is a view similar toFigure-Qillustrating amodification. Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure3 illustrating-means fixed to the beam for providinga path-or race forthe roller. Figure 6'is a side elevation of one end ofthe beamillustrating modified means for providing a path or race for the roller,Figure-7 is a transverse section thereof. Figures is aplanthereof.Figure9 isa plan of part of the beam when made in, sections:illustrating means for insulatingthe adjacent parts, and'F-igure 10 is aside elevation of part ofthe switch rail and 5 0 roller carrying bracketor holder illustrat ing means for level-ling the roller, the beam beingshown in transverse section.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3-, which illustrate the application of theinvention to flat footed rails, 1 represents the running rails, 2represents the switch rails, 8 represents the beam or member whichextends transversely beneath the running rails 1 and which presents a.path or race for a roller 4 which supports the switch rail 2, and saidroller is mounted in a bracket or holder carried by said switch rail 2,as hereinafter described.

'ihe parts hereinafter referred to are described as applied to one endof the beam, but

it will be understood that an identical arrangement of such parts isprovided at each end of the beam 3.

The beam 3 is furnished with an eye 5, (Figure 3) at each end thereofand one or both of said eyes are formed in an oblong or equivalent shapeso as to leave play to allow for any spread in the road and alsofor anydeviation in the distance between the running rails 1.

The beam 3 is preferably formed of a bar of iron or steel, or it mightbe other suitable metal or material, having any suitable section andwhen of rectangular or'equivalent section the eyes 5 may be convenientlyconstructed by bending or folding back the ends of said her so as toform said eyes 5', the ends of the bar being run along the body thereofthus doubling the thickness thereof, thereby, be sides forming the eyes5, providing a path or race for the roller 4, said bent over portion orend of the beam being fixed to the body of the beam by means of rivets 3or they might be bolts and nuts, this construction of the beam 3- beingmore particularly illustrated at Figure 3.

The eyes 5 or the beam 3might be constructed or made otherwise than inthe manner hereinbefore described.

For instance, the beam 3 might be of T, channcl'or equivalent section,and the eyes 5 may be punched or pressed out of the metal or material ofwhich the beam is made, as will bereadilyjunderstood,

The beam 3 is suspended from the running rails 1 by the following means.

6 represents-vertical bolts or rods which at their lower end engage inthe eyes 5 of the beam 3, and are there formed of rectangular orequivalent section to prevent the same turning or rotating in said eyes5 when the nuts hereinafter referred to are tightened or slackened inorder to adjust the spring, as hereinafter described.

7 represents a bracket, preferably an L shaped bracket, as shown, onearm of which is bolted to the running rail 1 by means of a bolt and nut8 and the surface of said bracket 7 which abuts the rail 1 is formedcurved or concave in order to prevent the rocking thereof. The other armof said bracket is hori- Zontally disposed, or approximately so, and isperforated, the bolt 6 passing through said perforation.

The extreme lower end of the bolt 6 is provided with an enlargement 9upon which the beam 3 rests, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and screwedupon the upper end of the bolt 6, which is threaded for that purpose, isa nut 10 between which and the bracket 7 is interposed a spring 11 whichembraces the bolt 6, the arrangement being such that the beam 3 isresiliently suspended from the bracket 7 by the bolt 6 through themedium of the spring 11 and nut 10. A lock nut 10 is also arovided toprevent the nut 10 loosening through vibration, or other suitable meansmight be provided for that purpose.

The switch rail 2 is supported on a roller 4 which, when the rail 2 ismoved, moves over or traverses the beam 3 to the extent of the movementof said switch rail 2.

The roller 4 is mounted in ball bearings 12 (which, however, might bedispensed with as will be readily understood) in a holder or bracket 13provided with a vertical pin or shank 14 which projects through a holeor perforation in the foot 2 of the switch rail 2, a key or plate 15being inserted between the foot 2* of the rail 2 and the upper surfaceof the holder or bracket 13 in order to lock the '3 same against rotarymovement and keep the roller 4 at right angles to the path or race onthe beam 3. Or said member 15 may be formed integral with the bracket orholder 13 instead of being separate therefrom. It will, however,beunderstood that it is preferred to constructthe member 15 as aseparate member, inasmuch as when wear takes place, said separate member15 can easily be bent or adjusted by the blow of a hammer on the rightspot, or said separate member 15 could be very easily replaced.

When constructed as a separate member, said member 15 comprises a platehaving one end or side bent upwardly so that it bears against the edgeof the foot 2 of the switch rail 2, and the other end is bent downwardlyso that it bears against the roller bracket 13, as will be understoodupon reference to Figure 2.

In the example given at Figure 4 are illustrated modified means forfixing the holder or bracket 13 to rails other than flat footed rails.

In this case the shank or pin let is dispensed with and in lieu thereofthe holder or bracket 13 is provided with an upwardly extending arm orplate 16, preferably a plate integral with the roller carrying holder orbracket 13, as shown, which is bolted to the web of the rail 2 by meansof a bolt and nut 17, said arm or plate 16 being cranked or shaped insuch manner as to accommodate the foot 2 of the rail 2, which rests uponthe roller holder or carrier 13 as hereinbefore described.

Thus by this construction a combined plain or ball bearing rollerbracket or holder and switch rail bracket is provided. In other respectsthe device is identical with that hereinbefore described.

It is desirable that the part of the beam 3 on which the roller 4 bears,be hardened to give greater durability, but it is not practicable toharden or case harden the beam 3 itself, as that would tend to warp thesame. In order therefore to provide a hardened path for the roller a,the beam 3 is provided with separate members constituting paths or racesfor each roller tthereover, which races are fixed to the beam in anysuitable manner and which members can be previously case hardened so asto give the desired durability.

One form of construction for attaining this end is illustrated in Figure5, wherein 18 represents such a member which in this case consists of ablock of iron or steel, or other suit-able metal or material,,locatedbetween the turned back part of the beam and the body of the beam itselfand fixed by the bolts or rivets 3, hereinbefore referred to, the member18 being perforated to receive the same, and said member 18 may be casehardened upon its upper surface for the purpose hereinbefore described.

In Figures 6, 7 and 8 this construction is modified. In this case themember 18 is of T section, the horizontal limb or part of the T beingcase hardened and resting upon the top surface of the beam 3 thusproviding a i r path for the roller 4 and the vertical limb or part 18being perforated and fixed in position between the turned back part ofthe beam 3 and the body of the beam itself, and fixed by the bolts orrivets 3 as shown.

In some cases the beam 3 as shown in Figure 9 may be made in two halveswhich overlap one another where they meet and are bolted together bybolts and nuts 19, whilst between said overlapping parts fibre or othersuitable packing 20, preferably electrically insulating packing orfibre, is inserted which construction is suitable for use in cases wherethe rails are track circuited.

In the example given at Figure 10 is illustrated means for levelling theroller 4 with its path or race on the beam 3, which means consist inproviding the holder or bracket 13 with a curved surface 13 at that parton which the switch rail 2 bears, the hole in the foot 2 of the rail 2being somewhat enlarged, as shown, to allow the requisite play when thebracket or holder 13 rocks, and to assist to this end the spindle of theroller 4 is mounted in slots 13* in the bracket 18 by which means it isensured that the roller 4 rolls on its path or race in such manner as totransmit the pressure uniformly to the surface of said path.

This construction of the bracket 13 is similarly applicable to railsother than fiat footed rails when the shank 14- takes the form of anupwardly extended plate which is bolted to the web of the switch rail 2,as hereinbefore described.

It will be understood that the details of construction of the railwayswitch mechanism hereinbefore described may be modified ac-' cording torequirements without departing from the principle of the invention.

I claim:

' 1. Railway switch mechanism comprising a pair of running rails, a beamextending transversely beneath said running rails,.

means for suspending said beam from said running rails, movable switchrails, rollers carried by said movable switch rails, means for carryingsaid rollers, and races on the beam over which said rollers traversewhen the switch rails are moved, and means carried by the beam adaptedfor compensating for the spreading of said running rails.

2. Railway switch mechanism comprising a pair of running rails, a beamextending transversely beneath said running rails, means fixed to saidrunning rails for resiliently adjustably suspending said beam, at eachend thereof, movable switch rails, supporting rollers carried by saidmovable switch rails adapted to traverse said beam, races on said beamfor said rollers, brackets in which said rollers are revolubly mounted,

means for mounting said brackets on said movable switch rails, and meanscarried by said beam adapted for compensating for the spreading of therunning rails.

3. Railway switch mechanismcomprising, a pair of running rails, a beamextending transversely beneath said running rails, brackets fixed tosaid running rails, adjustable means for suspending said beam from saidbrackets, movable switch rails, brackets fixed to said movable switchrails, rollers revolubly mounted in said brackets, paths on said beamadapted to be traversed by said rollers when the switcn rails are moved,and means for fixing said brackets to said movable switch rails, andmeans carried by said beam adapted for compensating for the spreading ofthe running rails.

4. Railway switch mechanism comprising,

apair of running rails, a beam disposed transversely beneath saidrunning rails, brackets fixed to said running rails, vertically disposedbolts suspended from said brackets, means carried by said bolts forsupporting said beam, eyes in said beam through which said bolts pass,movable switch rails, brackets fixed to said movable switch rails, apincarried by said brackets, perforations in the feet of the switch railsthrough which said pins pass, ball bearing rollers mounted in saidbrackets, paths on said beam adapted to be traversed by said rollerswhen the switch rails move, and means for maintaining the axes of saidrollers at right angles to said paths.

5. Railway switch mechanism comprising a pair of running rails, a beamsuspended transversely beneath said running rails, L shape bracketsbolted to said running rails, perforations in said brackets, verticalbolts passing through said perforations, enlargements on the lower endsof said bolts, elongated eyes in said beam through which said boltspass, means for preventing rotation of said bolts, nuts screwed on theupper ends of said bolts, springs interposed between said nuts and saidbrackets, said beam resting on said enlargements, movable switch rails,rollers carried by said movable switch rails and paths fixed to saidbeam, said rollers supporting the switch rails and traversing said pathswhen the switch rails are moved.

6. Railway switch mechanism comprising a pair of running rails, a beamextending transversely beneath said running rails, means for adjustablyresiliently suspending said beam from said running rails, means carriedby said beam adapted for compensating for the spreading of said runningrails, movable switch rails, brackets fixed to said movable switchrails, rollers carried by said brackets, paths on the beam for saidrollers, means on said brackets for levelling said rollers to pressevenly on said paths and plates for maintaining the axes of said rollersat right angles to said paths.

7. Railway switch mechanism comprising a pair of running rails, a beamextending transversely beneath said running rails, means for suspendingsaid beam from said running rails, eyes in said beam, said eyes beingmade by folding back the beam upon itelf and riveted thereto, movableswitch rails, roller carrying brackets, perforations in the feet of themovable switch rails, shanks carried by said roller carrying bracketslocated in said perforations, key plates interposed between said rollercarrying brackets and the feet of the movable switch rails, projectionson said plates engaging the feet of the switch rails, projections onsaid key plates engaging the roller carrying brackets for preventing theturning of said roller carrying brackets, rollers mounted in saidbrackets, paths on the beam for said rollers and means for levellingsaid rollers With said paths.

8. In railway switch mechanism as claimed in claim 1, a transverselydivided beam, the parts overlapping and bolted together, any suitableinsulating fibre being interposed between said meeting parts.

LLEVVELYN \VYNN-WVILLIAMS.

